Portable wardrobe.



No. 784,296. PATENTED MAR. '7, 1905. G. E. BLASHPIELD.

PORTABLE WARDROBE.

APPLIOATION FILED M11531, 1903-.

f l 1/ 2 H j a o o o a g) u o o o o 3 l J L J0 ""5 A2 i1 4 /z j I I I "I I- ii? 1 WIT 555155 NITED STATES Patented March '7', 190 5.

PATENT Fries.

PORTABLE WARDROBE- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,296, dated March 7, 1905.

Application filed January 31, 1903. Serial No. 141,229.

To tZl 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BLASIIFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Salem, county of \Vashington, and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable \Vardrobes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to such improvements; and it consists of the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and subsequently claimed.

Reference may be vhad to the accompanying drawings, and the reference characters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Similar characters refer to similar parts in the several figures.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a view in front elevation of my improved portable wardrobe as the same appears when supported against a side wall in use. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the same, taken on the broken line 3 3in Fig. 1, with the curtain removed. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section of the same, taken on the broken line at 4: in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view, partly in horizontal section and partly in plan, illustrating the hinge connection between an end rod of the supporting-frame and the folding shelf and folding curtain-bail, respectively. Fig. 6 is an end view of the front rod of the shelf-frame, illustrating the manner in which the same is connected with the supportingchain.

The object of my invention is to provide a temporary wardrobe foldable to compact form for convenience in storing and transporting the same and adapted when expanded to form, in connection with a side wall whereon the device is supported, a wardrobe inclosure adaptcd to receive and protect various articles of clothing.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown the supporting member of the device in the form of a frame made up of parallel end rods 1 and transverse rods 2, tenoned at their opposite ends in the respective end rods. The

frame thus formed is of general rectangular form and adapted to be supported against a side wall of a room, as by suspending the same from nails or hooks inserted in said wall or in any other known manner. I have shown the top rod provided with a pairv of eyes 3, adapted to receive such supporting nails or hooks, which are not shown. The frame thus formed supports a shelf comprising a board 4, secured upon the upper side of a shelf frame made up of a front rod 5 and a back rod 6, connected lJUgObllOl at intervals by the transverse rods 7, tenoned at their opposite ends in the respective front and back rods. Each end of the back rod is provided with a round tenon 8, adapted to fit and rotate in a mortise 9, formed in the adjacent end rail 1 of the supporting-frame, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby the shelf is hinged to the supporting-frame and adapted to be folded over thereupon.

The outer swinging end of the shelf is supported by a pair of diagonally-arranged chains 10, connecting the opposite ends of the front rod 5 with the upper ends of the respective end rods 1 of the supporting-frame. These chains are of a length adapted to support the shelf in a horizontal position when the device is in position on the side wall of a room. The chains 10 are preferably detachabl y connected with the shelf, as by providing the shelf-connecting end of each chain with an enlarged link or ring 11, adapted to pass over the knobbed ends 12 of the front rod The chains can thus be detached to permit the shelf to be folded downwardly upon the supportingframe, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, for convenience in transportation and storage.

To form a curtain inclosure, I provide the curtains 13, supported by and suspended from a curtain-bail 1a. prcferably formed of a piece of wire bent to extend parallel with and just outside of the front and end edges of the shelf-board, and having its ends introverted to form pintles 15, each adapted to enter a small aperture 16 in the neighboring end rod 1 of the supporting-frame. The curtain-bail is thus hinged to the supportingframe at its ends adjacent to the rear edge of the shelf, and its swinging end is supported by engagement with the upper side of the projeeting ends of the front rod 5 of the shelf.

The curtain-bail can be attached and detached by springing its ends sufficiently to permit the pintles 15 to be inserted in or withdrawn from the respective apertures 16 in the end rods of the supporting-frame.

The curtain may be connected with the curtain-bail in any known manner, as by passing the bail through a hem 17 on the curtain, the bail being disconnected from the supportingframe for this purpose. An inclosure or chamber is thus formed, of which the curtains form the front and ends, the side wall the back, and the shelf-board the top, which chamber is adapted to receive various articles which it is desired to conceal from view and protect from dust, &c. The shelf-board is also adapted to be used for the ordinary purposes of a shelf.

For convenience in supporting garments within the inclosure, I provide both the shelf and supporting-frame with hooks which may be of any known form. I have shown the supporting-frame provided with hinged hooks 18, supported by the lower pair of transverse rods 2 and adapted to be swung into the plane of the supporting-frame when not in use. The hooks on the shelf are preferably formed each from a single piece of wire having one end bent to hook form, as shown at 19, and its other end bent to spiral form and adapted to inclose, rotate upon, and slide longitudinally of a cross-rod 7, as shown at 20. The

hook so formed can be adjusted to any desired position upon the supporting cross-rod,and can be rotated thereon to bring its hook portion into the plane of the shelf when the device is folded for shipment or storage.

The curtain may, if desired, be connected directly with the shelf, as by means of tacks, as shown at 21 in Fig. 4.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In aportable wardrobe, the combination with a frame adapted to be supported in connection with a wall; of a frame-supported folding shelf provided with bail-supporting projections; a frame-supported folding curtainbail hinged to swing independently of the shelf and adapted to rest upon the shelf projections; and a curtain supported by said curtain-bail.

2. In a portable wardrobe, the combination 5 With a frame adapted to be supported in connection with a wall; of a folding shelf supported by said frame; a curtain-bail hinged to said frame independently of and adapted to rest upon said shelf; and a curtain, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand this 29th day of August, 1902.

CHARLES E. BLASHFIELD. Witnesses:

D. J. ABBOTT, W. C. LANNON. 

